Spool or reel



y 1929. w. c. MILLS 1,712,278

SPOOL 0R REEL Filed May 28, 1928 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALLACE C. MILLS, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO J. L. CLARK MANUFAG- TUBING 00., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

' sroor. a REEL.

Application filed ma as,

The invention pertains to spools of the type comprising a tubular core with substantially flat sheet metal heads secured upon opposite ends of the core. Such spools are adapted to contain thread, wire, adhesive tape, etc., and

are made in varying sizes depending upon the purpose for which they are to be used. The heads are customarily lithographed to present an attractive appearance and to identify the manufacturer of the contents of the spool, or the seller thereof, and to impart any other desired information.

With the foregoing in view, the object of the invention is to provide a spool of the character indicated having heads fastened onto the ends of the tubular core in a manner such as to provide for strength and rigidity; smooth uninterupted surfaces at the ends of the core; econon1y of manufacture with a minimum stressing of the metal; and neatness in appearance. 7

Another object is to provide a rigid fastening for the heads of the spool without theformation of undesirable grooves or crevices between the head and the core.

Strength and rigidity in the fastening of the heads on the ends of the core is especially desirable where the spool is to be used for winding fine wire, silk thread, or other material having a tendency to pack and spread the heads of the spool apart, so as to become wedged between the heads andthe body of the material being wound: Similarly, the I absence of 3 outwardly opening grooves, cracks or crevices in the joint between the core and the inner surface of the heads is also desirable in the case of wire, thread and the like, to prevent the same from becoming caught so as to interfere with the unwinding operation.

Smooth uninterrupted surfaces at the ends of the core are especially advantageous where the spool is to be usedfor adhesive tape, since it is customary for the user to insert a thumb or finger into the end of the core while the spool is being revolved in the operation of unwinding tape, and any sharp raw edges will injure the fingers or cut and tear rubber gloves such as are used by surgeons. Economy of manufacture is desirable for obvious reasons, but it is especially advantageous when coupled with rigidity of construction and with freedom from an undue stressing of the metal of the head. In

' the latter respect, where substantial stressing 1928. Serial No. 281,011.

of the metal is necessary, undesirable wrinkles are apt to be produced which distort the lithographed surface of the head and detract from the appearance thereof.

--The fOIGgOiIlg objects, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the use of a connecting member formed from a fiat sheet of metal to provide a complete annulus fitted into the end of the core and interlocking with the end of'the core and the inner edge of the flat ring forming the head.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spool of the type referred to.

,Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of one end of the spool on a slightly larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central sectional view through one end of the spool and showing the parts assembled, but before the interlocking operation.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the parts after the interlocking operation.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a, modified form.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view on a large scalethrough one end of a spool especially adapted for adhesive ta e.

In the drawings 7 designates t e tubular body or core of the spool and 8 the heads fastened on o posite ends of the core. The core is preferably formed from a flat sheet of metal rolled into tubular form, the opposite ends of the, sheet meeting at 9. In some instances these meeting edges are united by a suitable seam but are herein shown without sucha seam in slightly spaced relation. i

The head 8 is formed from a sheet of metalcore and in the construction employed in Figs. 2 and 4, each head is formed with. a flange 11 defining the central aperture in the head. Also as shown in said figures, the head is seated upon an annular shoulder which in the present instance is formed by an outwardly projecting bead 12 spaced a short distance from the end of the core (Fig. 3).

The flange 11 thus encircles the iend portion of the core extending beyond the bead 12, and extends in a direction toward the end of the .core.

The head and core are rigidly interlocked witheach other and with a connecting member generally designated by the numeral 13. This member is made from a flat sheet of metal; shaped to provide an .annulus 14; U- shaped in form and adapted to receive within it the end of the core and the encircling flange 11. The outer peripheral leg of the U-shaped .annulus terminates short of the outer face of the head and the inner leg of the annulus isof a length such that when the parts are interlocked (Fig. 4) it extends into the core substantially beyond the bead 12.

In interlocking the end of the core with the head and wit-h the connecting meml ier 13. the annulus together with the end-of the core and the flange 11 are pressed together and v bent outwardly into a position substantially at right angles to the axis of the core. At the same time axial pressure flattens the bead and the result'is that the annulus serves to bind the end of the core and the flange 11.together with the head clamped between the bent or flanged end of the core and the annular shoulder formed by the bead. It will be noted that the outer leg of the annulus 14 is turnedinwardly so as to engage in the outwardly opening groove formed between the flange 11 and the head, while the inner leg of the annulus iscurled around the end of the core and into the end thereof. Finally, the head is offset as at 15 to receive the flattened head, the inner face of the latter being subwardly opening crevice which would other wise be formed between the bead and the head."

Preferably the connecting member 13,in the case of the larger spools; includes an end wall 16 formed integralwith the inner leg of the annulus 14 and constituting an inward extension of the head 8. The opposite end walls 16 may be centrally apertured 'as at 17 to receive the ends of a small tube? 18. each end of the tube being bent outwardly into engagement with an oppositely turned" edge 19 of theopening in the end wall 16. Such a tube is made of a diameter corresponding to mandrels of standard size used in rotating the spools when winding wire or the like.

spool to be placed upon a rod or shaft to fahead being held against movement in a (lirection away from the end of the core bythe bead 12. i

In Fig. 6 the end wall 16 is omitted, the inner leg of the annulus being turned outwardly into engagementwith the wall of the core below the bead, as at 21. This construction is employed in the ease of smaller spools used for adhesive tape, where the spool'is held in the hand of the user while removing tape. Here the connecting member serves as a guard ring covering the raw edges of the metal at the slot 9 in the core.

- It will be observed that by the construction provided the heads of the spool are not only securely connected to the ends of the core but the connection is reinforced by the interlocking annulus so as to resist spreading of the heads. 7 Also the annulus provides a smooth uninterruptedv surface at the end of the core for the protection of the user in the case of adhesive tape spools. At the same time, the interlocking of the parts is effected Without any danger of stressing. breaking or otherwise injuring or weakening the metal of the head and of the connecting member. This is especially important from the standpoint of economy in manufacture in that it enables the use of ordinary commercial stock sheet metal and simplifies the assembling and forming operation. due to the fact that it reduces the number of forming operations, and it is unnecessary to use a lubricant on the dies which must subsequentlv be wiped off of the spools.

This application is a continuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 141,317, filed Oct. 13, 1926.

I claim as my invention:

1. A metallic spool comprising, in combination, a tubular body bent from a fiat sheet of metal and having an annular bead near but spaced a short distance from one end, a head having a central aperture with an outturned flange defining the aperture and adapted to receive the end of said tubular body, and an endless annular ring of U- shaped cross-section fitted over the free ends of said body and said flange, said end portion of the body being bent to form with said bead an outwardly opening groove in which said head is clamped, and said ring providing a curl passing around the body and into engagement with the head to secure said head against said bead 2. A metallic spool having, in combination.

an elongated tubular body shaped to form an. outwardly opening annular groove at one end, a head having a flanged edge projecting into said groove, and an annular member engaging said flanged edge of the head and curled around the end of said tubular body. 3. A metallic spool comprising, in combination,a tubular sheet metalbody having a bead near one endand an extension beyond said bead, a disk having a central aperture receiving said extension, said aperture being defined by an outwardly turned flange, a

member of U-shaped'cross-section receiving said flange and said extension, said member, said extension, and said flange being bent outwardly against the outer face of said head to form an interloeking joint.

at. A metal '0 spool comprising, in combination, a tu ular body bent from-a sheet,

the-termi' al ends of which form a narrow 'slot,.a dis c-shaped head receiving one end of said body, and a separately formed endless fmember interlocking with said head and the end of said body to secure them together, said member having a portion fitting into the end of the body so as to cover the end "of said slot.

. 5. A spool comprising, in combination, a tubular body bent from a sheet the terminal ends of which form a' slot in the body, said i body having an annular bead near one end and a flanged end 's aced fromsaid bead, a disk having a central aperture receiving the end of the body and positioned between said head and said flanged end of the body, and an annular member having one edge portion disposed between said disk and said flanged end of the body and then bent reversely to extend around the endof the body and into said body to cover the end of said slot.

in combination, a

6. A spool comprising; tubular sheet metal body aving an outwardly extending bead near one end and an extension beyond said bead, adisk having a central aperture receiving'saidiextension, a sep- 'arately formed annular member of U-shaped cross-section receiving sald extension, said extension and said member being bent outbeing bent outwardly to clamp the head updn said shoulder. 4

8. A spool comprising a tubular core, a head on one end of .the ore, and a connecting annulus for the hea and the core, said head having a flange encircling one end of' the core and said connecting annulus being formed from a sheet of metal bent into U- form to receive the end of the core and said flange, and said annulus together with the end of the core and said flange being bent outwardly to a position substantially perpendicular to the axis of the core whereby to interlock the head and the core together.

9. A spool comprising a tubular core, heads on opposite ends of the core, and connecting members for securing the heads on the core, each of said connecting n' elnbers comprising an annulus formed from a flat-sheet of metal and serving to bind said core and head together in interlocking relation, and an end wall formed integral with the annulus spaced from the end of the core, each of the end walls being apertured, and a tubular member having its opposite ends passing through the apertured end walls and interengaging therewith. i

10. A metallic spool comprising, in combination, a tubular sheet metal body having an outwardly extending bead near one end a disk having a central aperture and adapted to seat upon saidbead an annular member interlocked with said body and serving to clamp saiddisknpon saidbead, said disk being 'ofiset adjacent the body whereby to receive the bead with the inner face of the latter substantially flush with the inner face of the disk. i 6

11. A. metallic spool comprising, in combination, a tubular sheet metal bodyhaving an outwardly extending bead near one end and an extension beyond said bead, a head seated upon said bead and interlocked with said extension on the body, said head being in the form of a flat metal disk offset adjacent thevbody to receive said bead with the with the inner face of the disk.

y 12., A spool comprising a tubular core formed of sheet metal, a head in the form of a disk centrally apertured to receive the end of the core, said core being formedto provide a shoulder against which the head is adapted to seat, a flange on the head definin the aperture therein and encircling the en flat sheet of metal bent into U-form to receive the end of the core and said flange, said annulus together with the end of the core and inner face of the bead substantially flush- 1 of the core, and an annulus formed from a said flange being bent outwardly to aposition substantially perpendicular to the axis of the core whereby to interlock thehead and the core together with the head against said shoulder.

13. A spooLoOmprising, in combination, a tubular sheet metal body having an outwardly extending bead near each end and extensions beyond said bead, a pair of heads formed of sheet metal and seated upon said beads, a pair of connecting member's formed of sheet metal and servin to bind the heads on the bodyfan end wall f5! the bed formed integralwith the annulus, and a tubu arinember connectlng said end walls.

14, A spool-comprising a tubular core, a head for each end ofthe core comprising a disk formed from a flat sheet of metal with a I central aperture therein and a flange defining said aperture, the'end 0f the core and said ,flange'being secured together, an annulus formed of sheet metal and having a part covering the joint between the disk and the core and, a part extending into the end of the J 15. A spool cemprising a tubularc'ere, 21

head secured on each end of the core and com- 15 to receive the end of the core, and an annulus formed of sheet metal and fitting into the end of the core, said annulus extending from the outer face of the disk adjacent the core to a point within the core so as to (over the joint formed between the disk and the core, and a centrally apertured end wall for the core carried by the annulus.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

WALLACE e. MILLS. 

